Napping machine



- July 20 1926.

R. H. MONK MAPPING MACHINE 2 Shee ts-Sheet 1 Filed Jan.

' H. MONK NAPPING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jam. 5, 1925 .,w mu

Patented July 20, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RICHARD H. MONK, OF BROOKLINE, MASSACHUSETTS.

NAIPPING MACHINE.

Application filed January 3, 1925-.

is fed by suitable feed rolls or other means against a rotating brushwhich raises the nap and returns the blanket to a normal light, fieecycondition. The position of the brush in relation to the'w'ork is ofprimeimportance in such machines for if the brush is too close, it cutsinto the bodies of the blankets, wearin them out rapidly, and if notclose enoug the work has to be done over. At the present time, theposition of the brush is regulated by hand-operated adjusting meanswhich have to be constantly adjusted because of the great variation inthe thickness of the blankets; all of which con sume time and labor andare more or less inaccurate.

The main object of my invention is the provision in a machine of thecharacter described of means for automatically adjusting the position ofthe napping or brushing roll in relation to the work. 1

Another object of the invention is the provision of means whereby-thenapping or brushing roll is automatically adjusted in accordance withthe thickness of the work.

A further object is the provision of automatic adjusting means which arecapable of being set to determine the depth of penetration in the workof the napping roll and thereby the depth of the raised nap.

Other objects of the invention will be more specifically set forth anddescribed hereinafter.

One of the important features of my invention resides in providing afloating roll for raising the nap; that is, a roll which iseccentrically mounted or hung so that it is held against the work by itsown weight or by gravity and is free to move to and from the work inaccordance with the varying thick ness of the work. In the use of afloating Serial No. 354.

roll, the depth of penetration into the work of the card clothing orbristles may be regulated to some extent by weighting the roll. The useof such a roll obviates the making of adjustments, since thedetermination of the depth of penetration for anyone thickness of workwill apply to all thicknesses within practical limits.

Another feature of the invention consists in providing positive meansfor positioning the roll in relation to the work which is antomaticallyoperated by the varying thickness of the work-so that after an initialadjustment of the roll in order to produce a certain result no furtheradjustments are required and in the operation of the machine the rollchanges its position to correspond to the thickness of the work. Thismeans may be operated either through the medium of the feed rolls or ofany other suitable means.

In the drawings illustrating one form of my invention, Fig. 1 is a planview of the essential portionsof a napping or brushing machine showingbrush positioning means constructed and operated in accordance with myinvention; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same looking from right toleft in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a central cross-sectional view on line 3-3 inFig. 1 looking vfrom left to right and on an enlarged scale; and Fig. 4is a vertical sectional view of the feeding means arranged forautomatically regulating the positionof the napping roll in accordancewith the varying thickness of the work.

In the drawings illustrating the preferred embodiment of my invention,there is shown a machine comprising a floating napping roll, means forfeeding work against the roll and means automatically operated by thefeeding means for regulating the position of the roll in relation to thework and in accordance with the varying thickness thereof.

In the machine shown 10 designates the upper portion of a table or framewhich may be of any form suitable for supporting the operative parts. Abrushing or napping roll 12 provided with card clothing or bristles 1 1may be secured to a shaft 16 which in turn is rotatably journalled inthe lower ends of two hangers 18 and held thereto by end-plates 2Ofastened by bolts 22. Each of the hangers 18 may be pivotally secured atits upper end by a pin 2% to the overhanging end 26 of an uprightstandard or bracket 28 fastened to the table 10 by bolts 30. Beingsuspended by the two hangers, the roll 12 swings or floats in so far asit is permitted by the other mechanism. 7

For feeding the work any suitable feeding means may be provided and onesuch is shown comprising two co-operating feedrolls 32 and 34-, eachmounted on a shaft 36, the ends of which are adapted to fit loosely inU-shape end-plates 38 which may be bolted in an upright position to theframe 10 by bolts 40 passing through flanges The lower feed-roll 32 isfixed, since the ends of its shaft 36 rest in the lower ends of thechannels ll in end-plates 38, but the upper feed-roll 34 is free to movevertically to accommodate work of varying thickness. Two gears 46 may bemounted on the ends of the two shafts 36 on one side of the machine andlocked thereon by keys 48, the two gears enmeshing to drive thefeed-rolls in unison.

In front of the feed-rolls may be arranged any suitable mechanism fordelivering the work in flat unwrinkled condition to the feed-rolls, suchas a plurality of endless tapes 50 stretched over and between shafts 52and 54, either one of which may be driven by any suitable means to causesaid tapes to travel toward the feed-rolls and to carry the workthereon. The said shafts may be rotatably supported by a frame 56fastened to the frame 10 by bolts 58.

Between the feed-rolls and the napping roll may be arranged an idlerroll 60 over which the work is fed and which serves to hold the work asit is operated upon by the napping roll. Any suitable form of supportmay be used for this purpose, however, which will hold the work againstwithdrawal away from the roll.

Although it is possible to use the force of gravity alone for keepingthe napping roll 12 in engagement with the work by mounting it oficenter as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings, yet preferably, Iprovide positive means for regulating the position of the roll inrelation to the work and one form of such means consists of awedgeshapedblock adapted to be inserted at each end of the roll 12 between it and afixed support 7 2 to limit the movement of the roll toward the work. Anysuitable means may be provided for operating the two blocks 70 inaccordance with the varying thickness of the work, but preferably thisresult may be accomplished by utilizing the feed-rolls in the followingmanner. Each end-plate 38 is provided with a top-plate 71secured theretoby bolts 73 and having on its top surface an upright lug 7 at to whichis pivotally connected by a pin 75 a lever 76. The short arm of thelever 76 is normally in engagement with a vertical pin 77 which passesloosely through the top-plate 71 and rests upon a bearing block 78supported on the shaft 36 of the upper feed-roll 34. The long arm of thelever 76 loosely engages and encircles a pin 80 which is screwed intothe wedge-block 70, and the pin is provided with an annular flange 81engaging the under side of the long arm of the lever 5 so that thedownward movement of the long arm drives the pin 80 and block 70downwardly. The upper end of the pin 80 may be grooved to receive theend of screw driver or other instrument to permit an adjustmentof theblock 70, and position of the roll 12. A spring 83 having its lower endnested. in a recess formed in the base of the bracket 28 and its otherend encircling depending central lug 85 formed on the under side of theblock 70 serves to hold the block upwardlywith the flange 81 inengagement with the long arm of the lever 76 and the short arm pressingthe pin 77 down upon the bearing block T8.

Any form of fixed support 7 2 may be utilized and the form shown is onesecured to the end-plate 38 by a double-shanked screw 87 and having anoblique face 88 provided with a tongue 89 adapted to engage acorresponding groove in the block 70 to prevent lateral movementthereof. On its opposite side, the block 70 engages the lower end of thehanger 13.

In order to prevent any twisting or warping of the napping roll in itsrelation to the work, the foregoing means may he preferably arranged ateach end of the roll and the two units work in unison.

For the purpose of holding the hangers in engagement with thewedge-blocks 70 at all times, and therefore the napping roll in itsproper position in relation to the work, each hanger 18 may be providedwith rearwardly extending fixed arm 90 on the end of which may be hung aweight receiving element 92 adapted to receive weights 93. The aggregateweights applied at these points may be varied in accordance with theresults sought.

For driving the machine, the shaft 16 may be extended and provided witha pulley and an idler 102 connected to any suitable source of power by abelt 10-; and the other end of the shaft may be provided with a pulley106 to receive a belt or chain for driving the feed-rolls and tapes 50.The latter means are not shown since they are well known.

In the operation of the machine, the floating roll is first adjusted fornormal position in relation to the work. This adjuslment is made byturning the pin 30 to raise or lower the wedge-block 70 which moves thefloating roll toward or away from the work and thereby determines thedepth of the nap to be raised. So long as the depth of nap desiredremains constant no further adjustment is required since the position ofthe floating 'roll is'automatically changed to correspond with thethickness of the work.

After the normal position of the floating roll has been determined, thework may then be passed through the machine. It is laid out in flat formand stretched upon the tapes 50, which carry it forward to the feedrolls which feed it forward over the idler roll where the card clothingof the napping roll comes in contact with it and brushes it in the samedirection as it is fed. In this position, the weights 93 on the fixedarm 90 hold the napping .roll in engagement with the wedge-block,whichregulates the depth that the card clothing penetrates the fabric;the weights preventing any retractive action of the roll due to theresistance offered to the card clothing by the work. After the nap israised, the work asses downwardly into a proper recepta Ie. In treatingblankets, it is customary to run the work throu h the machine twice,presenting first one side and'then the other.

After the adjustment has been made, if thicker workis inserted betweenthe feedrolls, the upper feed-roll yields in an up ward direction toaccommodate the increased thickness of the work and the hearing block 78is raised, thereby, through the medium of the pin 77 depressing the longarm of the lever 76 to move the wedge-block downwardly, which action,because of the wedge shape of the block, causes the napping roll to bemoved a very slight distance away from] the work, in fact, a dis tanceequal to the increased thickness of the work, so that the deptho'fpenetration into the work and the depth of the nap raised remains thesame for various thicknesses of work. It will be observed that themachine automatically adjusts itself to various thicknesses of workafter it has been set to raise the nap a predetermined depth, but thedepth of nap raised maybe changed at any time by manipulation of the pin80.

Although my invention is illustrated as applied to a machine adapted forraising the nap on laundered blankets, it is to be understood that it isnot limited to such machines, because the invention is capable of usegenerally in brushing, combing, and other similar varieties of machines,nor is it my intention to limit it to a machine in which the nappingroll travels in the same direction as the work. Furthermore, theinvention is not to be limited to automatic means for regulating theposition of the napping roll, since in some machines it may be founduseful to use the floating roll alone, held in position with or withoutweights by the force of gravity. This may be found especially,advantageous in a machine used for raising nap of little depth uponcomparatively hard fabrics.

What I claim is i 1. In a machine of the character described, thecombination with means for feeding the work of a floating roll forraising the nap on the work and means controlled by said feeding meansfor varying the position of said roll in accordance with the thicknessof the work.

2.111 a machine of the character described, the combination with meansfor i feeding the work of a fixed element over which the work is fed, afloating brushing roll held by gravity against the work as it is fedover said fixed element and means controlled by said feeding means forvarying the position of said roll in relation to said work in accordancewith the thickness of said work.

3. In a machine of the character de-' feeding the work of a pivotallysuspended brushing roll adapted to be held against the work by gravityand means for rotating said roll in the same direction and at a speedgreater than the speed of the work.

5. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a pair offeed rolls for feeding the work, a fixed element over which the work isfed, a pivotally suspended floating brushing roll held by gravityagainst the work as it is fed over said fixed element and means forrotating said roll in the same direction as the feed of the work, but ata greater speed.

6. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a pair offeed rolls for feeding the work, a pivotally suspended floating brushingroll, means for holding said roll against the work by gravity, and meansfor limiting the approach of said roll to the work, said means beingcontrolled by the said feed rolls in accordance with the thickness ofthe work 7. In a machine of the character described, the combination ofmeans for feeding the work, a floating brushingroll hung pivotally,means for holding said roll toward the work, said means being operatedby gravity, and means for limiting the ap proach of said roll to thework; said limiting means being operated by the feeding means inaccordance with the varying thickness of the work.

8. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a pair offeedrolls for feeding the work, one of said rolls being free to yield toaccommodate work of varying thicknesses, a floating roll for beingyielding to raising the nap on the work, said roll being hung ofi centerwhereby it is forced toward the work by gravity, means for limiting itsmovement toward the work, said means being adjustable to regulate thedistance between the work and the roll and means whereby said adjustablelimiting means is operated automatically according to the varyingthickness of the work.

9. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a pair offeedrolls for feeding the work, one of said rolls being free to yield toaccommodate work of varying thickness, a floating roll for raising thenap on the work, said roll being hung off center whereby it is forcedtoward the work by gravity, means for limiting its movement toward thework, said means being adjustable to regulate the distance between thework and the roll and means operated by said feed-rolls whereby saidadjustable limiting means is operated automatically accordingly to thevarying thickness of the work.

10.111 a machine of the character de scribed, the combination of a pairof feed rolls for feeding the work, one of said rolls accommodate workof varying thickness, a napping roll pivotally mounted 01f center, meansfor holding the roll toward the work, means intermediate said feed-rollsand said napping roll for adjusting the relation of said napping roll tothe work in accordance with the varying thickness of the work.

11. In a machine of the character described, the combination of meansfor feeding the work, a napping roll pivotally hung off center andadapted to be forced against the work by gravity and means controlled bysaid feeding means for adjusting the approach of said napping roll tothe work in accordance with the varying thickness of the work.

12. In a machine of the character scribed, the combination of an idlerroll, means for feeding the work over said idler roll, a napping rollpivotally suspended in hangers slightly off center to cause it to engagelaterally the work on said idler roll, means on said hangers forcarrying weights to vary the pressure exerted on the work by saidnapping roll and means for rotating said napping roll.

13. In a machine of the character described, the combination of an idlerroll, means for feedingthe work over said idler roll. a napping rollpivotally suspended in hangers slightly off center to'cause it to engagelaterally the work on said idler roll, a rearwardly extending arm oneach hanger for receiving weights to vary the pressure exerted on thework by said napping roll and means for rotating said napping roll.

14.111 a machine of the character described, the combination of apair'of feedrolls for feeding the work, one of said rolls being free toyield to accommodate work of varying thicknesses, a napping roll forraising the nap on the work, said roll being hung oft center whereby itis forced toward the work by gravity, a wedge-block vertically movablefor regulating the position of said napping roll with relation to thework and means whereby said wedgeblock is moved vertically by thevertical movement of said free feed-roll.

15. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a pairof feed rolls for feeding the work, one of said rolls being movable toaccommodate work of vari ous thicknesses, a napping roll movable towardand from the work, means for normally pressing said napping roll towardthe work and means actuated by the movement of said movable feed-rollfor adjusting the relation of said napping roll to the work.

16.111 a machine of the character described, the combination of a pairof feedrolls for feeding the work, one of said rolls being movable toaccommodate work of various thicknesses, a napping roll movable towardand from the work, means for normally pressing said napping roll towardthe work, a wedge-block intermediate said feeding means and said nappingroll and movable vertically for regulating the relation of said nappingroll to the work and means whereby said wedge-block is actuated by themovable feed-roll in accordance with the varying thickness of the work.

17. In a machine of the character described, the combination of meansfor feeding the work, a napping roll movable toward and from the work,means for normally pressing said napping roll toward the work and meanscontrolled by the feeding means for varying the relation of said nappingroll to the work in accordance with the thickness of the work.

18. In a machine of the character described, the combination of meansfor feeding the work, a napping roll movable toward and from the work,means for normally pressing said napping roll toward the work. meansintermediate said feeding means and said napping roll and movable forregulating the relation of said napping roll to the work and meanswhereby said intermediate means is actuated by the feeding means inaccordance with the varying thickness of the work.

19. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a pairof cooperating feed-rolls for feeding the work, one of said rolls beingfree to move to accommodate various thicknesses of'work. apivotallysuspended napping roll movable toward and from the work, a wedge-blockintermediate said feed rolls and said naptically movfeeding the work ofa floating brushing roll, 10

d napmeans for controlling the relation of the ping roll to the work andconnections besaid brushing roll to the work and means ween saidwedge-block and said movable in engagement with the work for operating 5'ieed-roll for moving said wedge-block Versaid controlling means inaccordance with ti-cally in accordance with the vertical move variationsin the thickness of the work. 15

ment of said movable feed-roll. In witness whereof, I hereunto set my20. In a machine of the character dehand this sixteentlfiflay ofDecember, 924;.

scribed, the combination with means for CHART) H. MONK.

ping roll, said block being Ver able to regulate the relation of sai

